The topic of plant growth regulators (PGRs) comes up often during Course Consulting Service visits. However, on a recent visit to Haines, Alaska, I was introduced to a different kind of PGR, one that is giving an incredible golf course a much-needed lift. Post-glacial rebound has caused this low-lying, nine-hole golf course to rise nearly 4 feet as the surrounding glaciers have receded over the past number of years. Given this property’s location next to the Chilkat Inlet and the dramatic tidal variances in this part of the world, the property used to flood during high tides. Despite this regular inundation, a motivated property owner and a creative golf course architect found a way to make a golf course possible. To avoid losing grass due to flooding on the greens, they decided to use synthetic turf. With no irrigation system and no pesticides applied in this federally designated wetland, the synthetic greens have served golfers well at Valley of the Eagles Golf Links for over 16 years. However, now that this new PGR has lifted the course out of the tidal flood zone, a new owner and superintendent are eager to convert the greens to natural grass.
As we toured the course, I wondered if anyone even cared whether the greens were fake or real. These have to be some of the most distracted golfers on Earth given the spectacular mountain and river views around the course. With bald eagles soaring overhead, abundant salmon cruising through the course, and the perpetual threat of a rogue moose or grizzly bear playing through, not much time is spent looking down at the playing surfaces. However, after discussing the merits of using a mix of fine fescues on the greens and how to manage them during and after establishment, we all agreed that giving real grass a try was worth the effort.
Slender creeping red fescue and chewings fescue will be grown on the native soil greens. There will continue to be no supplemental irrigation nor pesticides used on the course. The greens will be reshaped to have more slope on them than a typical golf course. This will promote good surface drainage and match the expected green speeds. The one-man-show golf maintenance team will likely mow the greens two or three times a week and roll the other days. This is going to be a fascinating case study to watch in the years to come. So, if you ever want to see the most dramatic PGR effects in golf, make the trip to Valley of the Eagles Golf Links.
West Region Agronomists:
Brian Whitlark, senior consulting agronomist – bwhitlark@usga.org
Cory Isom, agronomist – cisom@usga.org